This balloon flight is literally out of this world

The next frontier in extreme travel appears to be high-altitude balloon flights.

Jeff Foust reports that Tucson-based World View Enterprises is developing a balloon system that will transport eight people in a pressurized capsule up to an altitude of about 19 miles, where they will remain for a few hours before descending to Earth. Foust says the company expects to begin these flights no earlier than 2016, charging $75,000 a ticket.

Although not technically into space — which generally is demarcated at 62 miles — the flights would lift the balloon well into the stratosphere above 99 percent of the Earth’s atmosphere.

The view would be most excellent.

An artist’s concept of the pressurized capsule. (World View Enterprises)

Because the pressurized capsule is fundamentally a spacecraft it would be treated and regulated as such by the FAA. This is a serious idea as the company is being run by several well-known commercial space executives, including Inspiration Mars’ Taber MacCallum and Golden Spike’s Alan Stern.

The cost, although not cheap, is considerably less than that of a similar venture being offered by a Spanish company known as bloon, which is offering balloon flights to 22 miles for about $150,000.

The descent would be spectacular. (World View Enterprises)

If you’ve got the money, the next decade sure is going to be a fun time for those looking for a romp into the edges of space.